Poetry Festival celebrates innovation

Marking the end of a busy half-term, on Tuesday 11 February parents, teachers and other special guests were wowed by the 58 finalists in the Poetry Festival 2025.

From almost 600 entrants, the finalists performed their poems in front of esteemed poet Rachel Long (pictured above). She was impressed by the students' experimentation with form and the range of subject matter, especially their ability to break down big ideas into the 'granular' and 'molecular' to powerful effect. The highlight of the English Department's calendar, this event embodies the Putney spirit: our students showed their intrepidness, intellectual agility, innovation and inclusivity!

The winners and runners-up:

Year 7 Winner Sienna R 'Emotions'

Year 7 Runner Up Alice M-C 'When the Sun Sets'

Year 8 Winner Ines M J 'Sunshine'

Year 8 Runner Up Sofia E 'The Linguist'

Year 9 Winner Florence A 'You May Blame Aphrodite'

Year 9 Runner Up Brooke H 'Arrangements'

Year 10 Winner Jessica L 'Spontaneous Knotting of

an Agitated String'

Year 10 Runner Up Audrey D R 'The Map of Memories'

Year 10 Runner Up Thea H 'After You Left'

Year 11 Winner Jessica G 'The Walls of the Heart'

Year 11 Runner Up Maria W 'The Last Giant'

Sixth Form Winner Chloe S 'If There Are No Moons'

Sixth Form Runner Up Sarah F 'Unsaid'

Best performance Y7-9 Sofia R 'Canis Major'

Best Performance Y10-13 Charlotte S 'Love Hearts'

AI Winner Ananya G 'Echoes of Creation'